Drawbar for power-operated industrial truck

ABSTRACT

A drawbar for power-operated industrial trucks with a drawbar handle which can be pivoted about a horizontal axis in a large angular range between an approximately upright position and a position inclined obliquely to vertical. The drawbar includes a drawbar head arranged at a free end of the drawbar handle, the head including a horn arranged in the extension of the drawbar handle, rod-like grips extending on both sides of the horn and approximately transversely thereto that are connected to carrier sections connected to the horn on both sides via arm sections attached to the end of a grip. The arm and carrier sections form a protective yoke with grip openings and at least one control element for a function of the industrial truck on one grip opening is arranged in the vicinity of the associated carrier section, such that it can be actuated from above by pressure from one finger, even when the hand grasps the rod-like grip facing it. The control element is constructed and arranged, such that with an approximately upright drawbar handle, it can even be actuated from the lower face of the drawbar head by finger or thumb pressure.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a drawbar for a power-operated industrial truckaccording to claims 1, 2 and 5.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Hand controlled lift trucks or front loaders have a drawbar with whichthe industrial truck is steered. The steering of the drawbar takes placeat the support for the pivotable drive wheel of the materials handlingtruck. At the free end a drawbar head is provided which has a pluralityof actuation members for operating the industrial truck. Thus forexample drive switches are provided, actuation elements for the liftingand lowering operation and the horn. It is known from EP 0 751 060 toattach grips on both sides of a horn, which is arranged in the extensionof the drawbar handle, and to attach them to both sides of the horn viaa protective bracket. The connection is made via arm sections extendingapproximately parallel to the horn and via carrier sections which inturn extend approximately parallel to the grips. It is further knownfrom the disclosed prior art, to arrange a drive switch griprespectively between a grip and the horn which can be twisted with thethumbs about an axis which approximately coincides with the axis of thegrip. Finally, it is also known from the disclosed publications, toattach to the carrier section a row of control buttons for the liftingand lowering operation, which are actuated by finger pressure when thehand simultaneously grasps the grip.

It is known from EP 1016569 A1 to attach a key pad to the lower face ofthe drawbar head, via which the operator can insert the authorisationcode.

It is known from U.S. Pat. No. 5,595,259 to make the grips of thedrawbar head rotatable and to use them for drive control. It is furtherknown to provide the grips with paddle-shaped shoulders in the vicinityof the arm sections, which protrude into the grip area and which can beactuated by the thumbs or a finger when the hand grips the arm sectionat the side.

It is known that a drawbar of the disclosed type can be pivoted in alarge angle between an approximately upright position and a fullylowered position, to be able to manouevre the vehicle in the widestvariety of spatial conditions. In the known drawbar embodiments thecontrol elements of the drawbar head can only be reached with difficultyin the folded up position of the drawbar and generally cannot beobserved which makes the operation more difficult. The control elementsare generally predominantly round or square in their contour shape andtherefore constructed in such a shape that they do not guarantee optimalaccessibility of the hand grasping the drawbar head in every position.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is to produce a drawbar for an industrialtruck in which the control elements allow optimal accessibility,optionally also when the drawbar is in the folded up position.

This object is achieved by the features of claims 1, 2 and 5.

In a drawbar according to claim 1 at least one control element isconstructed and arranged such that it can be actuated by finger or thumbpressure even from the lower face of the drawbar head when the drawbarhandle is approximately upright. Included in this is that the controlelement is visible for the operator even when the drawbar is upright, sothat the operator can securely strike the control element and actuate itby finger or thumb pressure.

In an alternative solution according to claim 2 a possibility foractuation in the disclosed manner is given when the drawbar position isfolded up, as a further control element is arranged on the lower face ofthe drawbar head, approximately oriented toward the control elementwhich is arranged on the upper face. It is understood that the twocontrol elements, namely the one which can be actuated from the upperface and the one from the lower face, control the same function of theindustrial truck.

The third solution according to claim 5 concentrates above all on theeasy accessibility of a control element in a drawbar head in differentpositions of the operator and the operator's hand on the drawbar head.In this connection it is proposed to construct the control element inthe shape of a paddle as a rocker switch, by being rotatably mountedabout an axis on the carrier section or on the horn.

If actuation of the control element is also provided from the lower faceof the drawbar head, the control element can also be paddle-shaped, evenwhen on the upper face and the lower face of the drawbar head a separatecontrol element is respectively provided.

The paddle-shaped control element lies with its axis of rotationapproximately in the same plane in which the drawbar head or its centreplane extends. The axis of rotation can extend perpendicular to the axisof the horn or lies in any angle between 90° and 0°. This angle ispreferably approximately 20° to 40° to the axis of the horn.

According to a further embodiment of the invention it is provided thatthe carrier section comprises a surface section in the vicinity of thehorn and/or the horn in the vicinity of the carrier section on the facefacing the grip opening, which surface section extends transversely,preferably perpendicular to the plane which is fixed from the gripopening or the centre plane of the drawbar head and the control elementis arranged in the vicinity of the surface section. The support of thecontrol element is then preferably such that it is moved approximatelyparallel to the surface section when it is actuated. The actuation pathis dependent on whether the switch to be actuated works digitally orproportionally. In the first case a relatively short operating path issufficient. In the second case the actuation path is correspondinglylonger to allow sensitive operation.

For aesthetic, but also for ergonomic reasons, the inner face of thehorn and/or carrier section which faces the grip opening, form(s) arounding via which the carrier section merges with the horn. As a resultan embodiment of the invention provides that the surface section isconcave or has a curved contour and the faces facing these surfacesections of the control element are convex. If adapted to the disclosedshaping, the control element can be banana-shaped or circularsegment-like in plan view.

The paddle-shaped control element can protrude completely into the gripopening as a type of shoulder. Alternatively, it is provided accordingto an embodiment of the invention that the surface section has a recessin which the control element is received. According to an embodiment ofthe invention it can be completely received so that its surface facingthe grip opening is terminated flush with the adjoining surfaces of thecarrier section and horn.

It is conceivable to arrange a control element in just one grip opening.Preferably a control element is however provided on each side of thehorn, the two symmetrically arranged control elements able to actuatethe same function of the industrial truck or each effecting anotherfunction. In the first case the control elements can sit on a commonshaft which preferably is extended approximately perpendicular to theaxis of the horn.

For ergonomic and design reasons it is advantageous according to oneembodiment of the invention if the upper face and/or the lower face ofthe control element are/is approximately flush with the surface of theadjacent regions of the drawbar head. The upper face and/or the lowerface of the control element can be of continuous concave form or beprovided with a trough. Alternatively at the ends of the upper faceand/or lower face of the control element trough-like recesses can beprovided to facilitate the actuation of the switch. Moreover the upperface and/or lower face can be provided with a face which is rubber-likeor otherwise sufficiently rough to facilitate the actuation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the invention will emerge in more detail from thefollowing description with reference to the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a plan view of a drawbar head of a drawbar according to theinvention.

FIG. 2 shows the lower face of the drawbar head according to FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows the lower face of the drawbar head according to FIG. 1 withan alternative actuation relative to FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 shows the lower face of the drawbar head according to FIG. 1 withan alternative actuation.

FIG. 5 shows a similar drawbar head to FIG. 1, but additionally with apossibility for supporting the control element indicated.

FIG. 6 shows a further embodiment of the control elements for thedrawbar head according to FIG. 1 or 5.

FIG. 7 shows a third possibility for supporting the control elements ofthe drawbar head according to FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 shows a further embodiment of a drawbar head according to theinvention.

FIG. 9 shows the plan view of a further embodiment according to theinvention.

FIG. 10 shows the plan view of the half drawbar head according to FIG. 9when a control element is actuated at the side.

FIG. 11 shows a similar view to FIG. 8 but from the lower face of adrawbar head according to the invention.

FIG. 12 shows a section through the view according to FIG. 8 along theline 12-12.

FIG. 13 shows the key elements according to FIG. 12 in a first position.

FIG. 14 shows the actuation of the key elements in a second position.

FIG. 15 shows two views of different positions of the drawbar head shownin the preceding figures with actuation of the key elements according toFIGS. 12 to 14.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A drawbar head is indicated in FIGS. 1 to 10 which is generally referredto by 10 and in its basic configuration is similarly constructed in allthe Figures. It is connected via a shoulder 12 to a drawbar handle ordrawbar tube of an industrial truck not shown. The drawbar handle ispivotally mounted about a horizontal axis and covers a larger angularrange from an approximately upright position to an approximately flatposition of the drawbar. In the extension of the drawbar or the shoulder12 a so-called horn 14 extends and carrier sections 16, 18 are attachedto opposing faces of the horn 14. The carrier sections 16, 18 areradiused and merge with arm sections 20, 22 which extend approximatelyparallel to the horn 14 at a distance therefrom. At the other end thearm sections 20, 22 are connected to rod-like grips 24, 26 which extendapproximately perpendicular to the central axis 28 of the drawbar head10 in the direction of the horn 14, but end at distance therefrom. Theshoulder 12, carrier sections 16, 18, arm sections 20, 22 and grips 24,26 can together form a plastics component or be formed from two separateshells, of which the separating plane is located in the centre plane ofthe disclosed drawbar head. In the space between the horn 14 and thefree ends of the grips 24, 26 drive switches 30, 32 are rotatablymounted and about an axis which approximately coincides with the axis ofthe grips 24, 26. Grip areas or grip openings 34 or 36 are formed by thecarrier sections 16, 18, arm sections 20, 22 and grips 24, 26.

As is seen from looking at FIGS. 1 and 2 together, a concave surfacesection 38 or 40 is formed in the curved transition region between thecarrier section 16, 18 and the horn 14, and which in the carrier section16, 18 is formed in a flat recess. The surface section extendsapproximately perpendicular to the centre plane of the drawbar head.Adapted to the contour of the surface section 38, 40 a paddle-shaped orbanana-shaped control element 42 or 44 is arranged. As is revealed fromboth FIGS. 1 and 2 the control element 42, 44 is ‘continuous’, ie it canbe actuated both from the upper face according to FIG. 1 and from thelower face according to FIG. 2. FIG. 1 shows the view of the drawbarhead which the driver has when the industrial truck is operated with thedrawbar. The drawbar head 10 is normally located approximately at hipheight. The control elements 42, 44 are constructed as rocker switches,ie actuation can take place approximately at the ends of the controlelement 42, 44, to produce a function of the industrial truck, forexample a lifting or lowering process. In FIG. 1 it is shown how, fromthe operator's point of view with the drawbar head folded down, thecontrol elements 42 can be used with the index and middle fingers. InFIG. 2 the drawbar handle is folded up and the operator sees theunderside view of the drawbar head 10. The operator can now actuate acontrol element 42, 44 with the thumbs, when the grip 24 or 26 issimultaneously grasped. Even with the actuation according to FIG. 1, thecontrol elements 42, 44 are actuated when the grips 24, 26 are graspedsimultaneously.

In FIGS. 3 and 4 the drawbar head 10 is shown in the same view as inFIG. 2, ie with the drawbar handle folded up. It can been seen that anactuation element 42, 44 can be operated with the fingers without handsupport. FIG. 4 shows how a control element, in this case controlelement 44, is actuated with the index finger when the arm section 22 orthe carrier section 18 is grasped simultaneously by the hand. FIG. 5shows the same view as FIG. 1. Additionally in FIG. 5 the support orrotatability of the actuation elements 42, 44 is indicated. Journals areshown by 46 or 48 of which the axis is arranged at an angle x to theaxis 28 of the drawbar head 10. The axis of the journals 46, 48 liesapproximately in a plane which is formed by the centre plane of thedrawbar head 10. As is revealed in FIGS. 6 and 7 the angle can also begreater, for example 90° to the axis 28, of which further detail will begiven below. The contour shape of the control elements 42, 44, whoseface facing the surface section 38, 40 is convex, and whose face facingthe grip area 34, 36 is concave, is constructed which gives on the onehand free mobility of the hands grasping the grip 24, 26 and on theother hand a position in the vicinity of the fingers which facilitatesas far as possible the grip of the operating surface.

In FIGS. 1 to 10 the drawbar head 10 is only shown in contour. It isunderstood that it is a three dimensional body, the region of the hornhaving a greater thickness than the parts on both sides of the horn.Upper and lower faces of the grip body are moreover slightly radiusedand convex. The upper faces or lower faces of the control elements 42,44 are such that they are flush with the adjacent surface regions of thedrawbar head, so that neither protruding or raised sections nor loweredsections are formed.

It emerges from FIGS. 6 and 7 that paddle-shaped control elements 50, 52are pivotally mounted about an axis which extends perpendicular to theaxis 28. In the embodiment according to FIG. 6, each paddle-shapedcontrol element 50, 52 is pivotally mounted by means of a separatejournal 54 or 58 in the horn 14. In the embodiment according to FIG. 7,the control elements 50, 52 are pivotally mounted .by means of aseparate continuous shaft 60. The support according to FIGS. 6 and 7requires that the control elements 50, 52 have a slightly differentcontour and in the region located toward the carrier sections 16, 18 areslightly wider than at the end which faces the drive switches 30, 32.The faces of the control elements 50, 52 facing the carrier sections 16,18 or the horn 14 are adapted to the contour of the surfaces whichdefine the grip area 36. The face facing the grip area 34, 36 isconcave, so as not to restrict it too far.

In the embodiments according to FIGS. 1 to 6 the control elements 42, 44or 50, 52 can actuate the same or different functions of the industrialtruck not shown. In the embodiment according to FIG. 7 in which acontinuous actuation axis is provided, only the same function can beactuated at any given time.

In the embodiment according to FIG. 8 the carrier section 16 or 18 andthe section of the horn 14 facing it, has an approximately trapezoidalrecess 62 or 64, in which a paddle-shaped actuation element 66, 68 isreceived, it being adapted in its contour to the shape of the recess 62,64. The face facing the grip area 34, 36 is slightly concave, in ordernot to restrict the grip area 34, 36.

The embodiment according to FIG. 9 is largely the same as that accordingto FIG. 1, the control elements 42, 44, which are formed in a similarmanner to the control elements according to FIG. 1, being howeverarranged completely freely in the grip area 34, 36 and being adapted tothe rounded contour with their face facing the carrier section 16, 18,via which face the horn 14 merges with the carrier section 16, 18.

For some operating situations, as shown for example in FIG. 10, theembodiment according to FIG. 9 is advantageous as actuation can possiblyalso usefully take place from the oblique direction to the actuationaxis.

The paddle-shaped control elements can be provided with a suitably roughsurface, so that the thumbs or the finger actuating them does not slip.Moreover a trough or even a continuous trough can be formed at the ends.Neither is shown.

It is clear from FIG. 11 that on the lower face of the drawbar head 10corresponding key elements 66 a, 68 a are provided, additional to thekey elements 66, 68 according to FIG. 8, which can be actuated from theupper face of the drawbar head. Their actuation leads to the samefunctions as the actuation of the key elements 66, 68. The difference ismerely that these functions can also be carried out when the drawbar isfolded up.

It is understood that similar control elements, as are shown in theremaining Figures, can also correspondingly be duplicated, ie can beactuatable firstly from the upper face and then from the lower face ofthe drawbar head.

The key elements 66 b and 68 b according to FIGS. 12 to 14 are arrangedin a similar manner to the key elements 66 and 68 according to FIG. 8.The key elements 66 b and 68 b are also received in correspondingrecesses of the carrier sections 16, 18, as is explained in FIG. 8. Theonly difference between FIG. 8 and FIGS. 12 to 14 is that in FIGS. 12 to14 the key elements have approximately the same width over their extenton both the upper and the lower face. It is further noteworthy that thekey elements 66 b, 68 b are tiltably mounted approximately about anaxis, as is indicated in FIG. 5. In FIG. 13 the key elements 66 b, 68 bare tilted by pressure on the upper surfaces at the respective outerface. It is understood that the same tilting is also obtained when thelower face of the key elements 66 b, 68 b is lifted up inside.

In the embodiment according to FIG. 14 the tilting movement is opposedto that in FIG. 13. In this case either the upper face of the keyelements 66 b, 68 b is pressed inwardly or the lower face outwardly. Itis therefore possible with the aid of the key elements 66 b, 68 b toactivate a lifting and lowering process regardless of the position ofthe drawbar rod 12.

As is seen particularly in FIGS. 12 to 14, the key elements 66 b, 68 bare completely incorporated in the carrier sections 16, 18. As thecarrier sections 16, 18 have roof-shaped surfaces in the region of therecess for the key elements 66 b, 68 b, the outer surfaces of the keyelements 66 b, 68 b are also roof-shaped to adapt to the adjacentsurfaces of the carrier sections 16, 18.

In the left illustration of FIG. 15 the drawbar rod 12 is approximatelyupright and it can be seen how the key element 66 b can be actuated fromthe lower face with the thumbs of a hand grasping the grip section 24,in this case on the inner face corresponding to FIG. 13. In the rightillustration of FIG. 15 the drawbar rod 12 is in the conventionaloperating position and it is shown how the key element 66 b can beactuated with the index finger from the upper face, corresponding againto the illustration according to FIG. 13.

1. Drawbar for power-operated industrial trucks with a drawbar handlewhich can be pivoted about a horizontal axis in a large angular rangebetween an approximately upright position and a position inclinedobliquely to the vertical, a drawbar head arranged at the free end ofthe drawbar handle, comprising a horn arranged in the extension of thedrawbar handle, rod-like grips extending on both sides of the horn andapproximately transversely to the horn and which are connected tocarrier sections connected to the horn on both sides via arm sectionsattached to the end of the grip, the arm and carrier sections forming aprotective yoke with grip openings and at least one control element fora function of the industrial truck on one grip opening which is arrangedin the vicinity of the associated carrier section, such that it can beactuated from above by pressure from one finger, even when the handgrasps the rod-like grip facing it, wherein the control element isconstructed and arranged such that with an approximately upright drawbarhandle it can even be actuated from the lower face of the drawbar headby finger or thumb pressure.
 2. Drawbar for power-operated industrialtrucks with a drawbar handle which can be pivoted about a horizontalaxis in a large angular range between an approximately upright positionand a position inclined obliquely to the vertical, a drawbar headarranged at the free end of the drawbar handle, comprising a hornarranged in the extension of the drawbar handle, rod-like gripsextending on both sides of the horn and approximately transversely tothe horn and which are connected to carrier sections connected to thehorn on both sides via arm sections attached to the end of the grip, thearm and carrier sections forming a protective yoke with grip openingsand at least one control element for a function of the industrial truckon one grip opening which is arranged in the vicinity of the associatedcarrier section, such that it can be actuated from above by pressurefrom one finger, even when the hand grasps the rod-like grip facing it,and a second control element formed approximately the same as the firstcontrol element is arranged and constructed beneath the first controlelement, such that with an approximately upright drawbar handle it canalso be actuated from the lower face of the drawbar head by finger orthumb pressure.
 3. Drawbar according to claim 1, wherein the actuationelement is constructed as a paddle-shaped rocker switch and is pivotallymounted about an axis on the carrier section or on the horn.
 4. Drawbaraccording to claim 2, wherein the two actuation elements are constructedas paddle-shaped rocker switches and are pivotally mounted about an axison the carrier section or the horn.
 5. Drawbar for power-operatedindustrial trucks with a drawbar handle which can be pivoted about ahorizontal axis in a large angular range between an approximatelyupright position and a position inclined obliquely to the vertical, adrawbar head arranged at the free end of the drawbar handle, comprisinga horn arranged in the extension of the drawbar handle, rod-like gripsextending on both sides of the horn and approximately transversely tothe horn which are connected to carrier sections connected to the hornon both sides via arm sections attached to the end of the grip, the armand carrier sections forming a protective yoke with grip openings and atleast one control element for a function of the industrial truck on onegrip opening and which is arranged in the vicinity of the associatedcarrier section, such that it can be actuated from above by pressurefrom one finger, even when the hand grasps the rod-like grip facing it,wherein the actuation element is constructed as a paddle-shaped rockerswitch and is pivotally mounted about a pivot axis on the carriersection or on the horn.
 6. Drawbar according to claim 2, wherein thepivot axis of the control element is arranged approximately in thecenter plane of the drawbar head.
 7. Drawbar according to claim 4,wherein the angle x of the axis of the actuation element to the axis ofthe horn lies between approximately 90° and 0°.
 8. Drawbar according toclaim 7, wherein the angle x is approximately 20° to 40°.
 9. Drawbaraccording to claim 1, wherein the carrier section in the vicinity of thehorn and/or the horn in the vicinity of the carrier section includes asurface section on the side facing the grip opening which extendstransversely, perpendicular, to the centre plane of the drawbar head andthe control element is arranged in the vicinity of the surface sectionand is adapted to its contour.
 10. Drawbar according to claim 9, whereinthe surface section is concave and the surfaces of the control elementfacing it are convex.
 11. Drawbar according to claim 9, wherein thecontrol element is banana-shaped in plan view.
 12. Drawbar according toclaim 9, wherein the surface section is formed in a recess of at leastone of the carrier section and the horn.
 13. Drawbar according to claim12, wherein the control element is received by the recess and itssurface facing the grip opening is terminated flush with the adjacentsurfaces of the grip opening.
 14. Drawbar according to claim 1, whereinan actuating element is provided on each side of the horn.
 15. Drawbaraccording to claim 14, wherein the control elements actuate the samefunction of the industrial truck.
 16. Drawbar according to claim 14,wherein the control elements actuate different functions of theindustrial truck.
 17. Drawbar according to claim 5, wherein the controlelements sit on a common shaft which extends approximately perpendicularto the axis of the horn.
 18. Drawbar according to claim 1, wherein theupper face and/or the lower face of the control elements areapproximately flush with the surface of the adjacent surface regions ofthe drawbar head.
 19. Drawbar according to claim 1, wherein the upperface and/or the lower face of the control element includes a convex ortrough-like form throughout.
 20. Drawbar according to claim 1, whereinthe upper face and/or the lower face of the control element includestrough-like recesses on free ends thereof.
 21. Drawbar according toclaim 1, wherein the upper face and/or the lower face of the controlelement includes a rubber-like or otherwise rough surface.
 22. Drawbaraccording to claim 1, wherein the control element serves to actuate thelifting/lowering function of a load-carrying means of the industrialtruck.
 23. Drawbar according to claim 2, wherein the carrier section inthe vicinity of the horn and/or the horn in the vicinity of the carriersection includes a surface section on the side facing the grip openingwhich extends transversely, perpendicular to the center plane of thedrawbar head and the control element is arranged in the vicinity of thesurface section and is adapted to its contour.
 24. Drawbar according toclaim 23, wherein the surface section is concave and the surfaces of thecontrol element facing it are convex.
 25. Drawbar according to claim 23,wherein the control element is banana-shaped in plan view.
 26. Drawbaraccording to claim 23, wherein the surface section is formed in a recessof at least one of the carrier section and the horn.
 27. Drawbaraccording to claim 26, wherein the control element is received by therecess and its surface facing the grip opening is terminated flush withthe adjacent surfaces of the grip opening.
 28. Drawbar according toclaim 5, wherein the carrier section in the vicinity of the horn and/orthe horn in the vicinity of the carrier section includes a surfacesection on the side facing the grip opening which extends transversely,perpendicular, to the centre plane of the drawbar head and the controlelement is arranged in the vicinity of the surface section and isadapted to its contour.
 29. Drawbar according to claim 28, wherein thesurface section is concave and the surfaces of the control elementfacing it are convex.
 30. Drawbar according to claim 28, wherein thecontrol element is banana-shaped in plan view.
 31. Drawbar according toclaim 28, wherein the surface section is formed in a recess of at leastone of the carrier section and the horn.
 32. Drawbar according to claim31, wherein the control element is received by the recess and itssurface facing the grip opening is terminated flush with the adjacentsurfaces of the grip opening.
 33. Drawbar according to claim 2, whereinan actuating element is provided on each side of the horn.
 34. Drawbaraccording to claim 33, wherein the control elements actuate the samefunction of the industrial truck.
 35. Drawbar according to claim 33,wherein the control elements actuate different functions of theindustrial truck.
 36. Drawbar according to claim 2, wherein the controlelements sit on a common shaft which extends approximately perpendicularto the axis of the horn.
 37. Drawbar according to claim 2, wherein theupper face and/or the lower face of the control elements areapproximately flush with the surface of the adjacent surface regions ofthe drawbar head.
 38. Drawbar according to claim 2, wherein the upperface and/or the lower face of the control element includes a convex ortrough-like form throughout.
 39. Drawbar according to claim 2, whereinthe upper face and/or the lower face of the control element includestrough-like recesses on free ends thereof.
 40. Drawbar according toclaim 2, wherein the upper face and/or the lower face of the controlelement includes a rubber-like or otherwise rough surface.
 41. Drawbaraccording to claim 2, wherein the control element serves to actuate thelifting/lowering function of a load-carrying means of the industrialtruck.
 42. Drawbar according to claim 5, wherein the pivot axis of thecontrol element is arranged approximately in the center plane of thedrawbar head.
 43. Drawbar according to claim 5, wherein the angle x ofthe axis of the actuation element to the axis of the horn lies betweenapproximately 90° and 0°.
 44. Drawbar according to claim 43, wherein theangle x is approximately 20° to 40°.
 45. Drawbar according to claim 5,wherein an actuating element is provided on each side of the horn. 46.Drawbar according to claim 44, wherein the control elements actuate thesame function of the industrial truck.
 47. Drawbar according to claim44, wherein the control elements actuate different functions of theindustrial truck.
 48. Drawbar according to claim 5, wherein the controlelements sit on a common shaft which extends approximately perpendicularto the axis of the horn.
 49. Drawbar according to claim 5, wherein theupper face and/or the lower face of the control elements areapproximately flush with the surface of the adjacent surface regions ofthe drawbar head.
 50. Drawbar according to claim 5, wherein the upperface and/or the lower face of the control element includes a convex ortrough-like form throughout.
 51. Drawbar according to claim 5, whereinthe upper face and/or the lower face of the control element includestrough-like recesses on free ends thereof.
 52. Drawbar according toclaim 5, wherein the upper face and/or the lower face of the controlelement includes a rubber-like or otherwise rough surface.
 53. Drawbaraccording to claim 5, wherein the control element serves to actuate thelifting/lowering function of a load-carrying means of the industrialtruck.